On June 7, 1962, the Organisation de l'armée secrète (better
known as the OAS), a militant underground organization opposed to Algerian
independence, burned down the library of the University of Algiers destroying
112,500 books. This was one of the culminating acts of the 1954-1962
Algerian War which included many atrocities on both sides. On
July 1, 1962 Algerians in overwhelming numbers voted in favor of independence
from France. The burning of the library was seen as a symbol of the rightness of
Algerian independence and resulted in a number of Muslim countries issuing
postage stamps commemorating the tragic event. I first learned of these postage
stamps from a reprint of a 1982 American Libraries article
entitled "Biblio-philately" by George M. Eberhart in the first edition of the
Whole Library Handbook. The stamps were among the first additions to my
collection of postal
librariana.

The
first day cover shown here depicts the June 7, 1965 Algeria stamp commemorating
the burning of the library. It has a Scott Catalogue number of B98. It is a
semi-postal stamp with the surtax going to the National Solidarity Fund of
Algeria. June 7 is celebrated as the official anniversary of Algerian
independence.

This
first day cover was by Egypt on June 7, 1965. A pictorial postmark is used
to cancel the stamp which has the Scott Catalogue number 668. The same
stamp design was used by other Muslim countries.

This
first day cover was created by the Iraqi Philatelic Society and features the two
stamps issued by Iraq. They have Scott Catalogue numbers 380-381.

Jordan
also issued a stamp which was used to help mail this commercial cover. The stamp
is Scott Catalogue number 517.

A
very simple first day cover showing the two stamps issued by Kuwait, Scott
Catalogue numbers 289 and 290.

This
first day cover from Libya was actually sent through the regular mails.
The stamps are Scott Catalogue numbers 282 and 283.

This
commercial cover from Saudi Arabia includes two of the six stamps of different
denominations issued to commemorate the burning of the library by that country.
The Scott Catalogue numbers are 363-368.

Yemen
issued two stamps, one for regular mail and one for air mail. The regular mail
stamp is Scott Catalogue number 214 and the air mail stamp is Scott Catalogue
number C33. This small
souvenir sheet shows the airmail stamp.